There has been much speculation in the papers (here for example) over the last few days about the Labour Party parachuting in Jack Dromey to replace Harry Cohen (who is retiring from the House of Commons) as the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for Leyton and Wanstead. Dromey is the deputy general secretary of the Unite trade union, a former Labour Party treasurer and husband of Harriet Harman.
Edwin Northover, the Conservative candidate (pictured) has just been in touch to say that he would welcome this prospect:
"The Labour Party just don't get it. Harry Cohen is standing down over criticism of his enormous expense claims and the Labour hierarchy are considering parachuting in Jack Dromey of all people! Yes, this is the same Jack Dromey that, despite being the Labour Party's Treasurer, claimed he knew nothing about the loans-for-peerages scandal. It is the same man that claimed he knew nothing of secret donations to his wife through proxies. And it is the very same man that remortaged his house to the tune of £40,000 to finance Harriet's bid for the deputy leadership: £40,000 which she "forgot" to declare.
"Labour can't trust any locals to stand in this seat as Waltham Forest Labour Party is disintegrating. But if they think local voters will choose Harriet Harman's husband to prop up her leadership campaign then they're more divorced from reality than we thought they were."
Jonathan Isaby
